Gourdon



S P 1951 R. GOURDON 2,568,618

INDICATING MEANS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 21, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Robert Gouraloh WrM A TTORNE' Y5 Sept. 18, 1951 R. GOURDON INDICATING MEANS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 21, 1948 Patented Sept. 18, 1951.

INDICATING MEANS FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Robert Gourdon, Paris, France, assignor to Societe anonyme (lite Centre dEtudes M. B. A.

(Mecanique France Balistique Armement) Paris,

Application September 21, 1948, Serial No. 50,411 In France October 31, 1947 13 Claims.

My invention has for its object improvements in the visual signalling means used in various types of accounting machines and more especially in cash registers.

The new device according to my invention is capable of broader application, for instance for telemechanical purposes. It is an object of my invention to provide an indicating mechanism that is smaller and simpler in design than those now in use allowing, in particular, an instantaneous dismantling of the mechanism, and being more reliable and noiseless in operation.

In the new mechanism I have reduced the use of springs to a minimum in order to obtain a substantially positive operation throughout.

This mechanism comprises for each order of magnitude or kind of indication a pack of thin elastic blades one end of which is held in vertical position in a support while the other ends are free and carry letters or figures. The blades can be bent down so that about three quarters of their length extend horizontally with their ends held down in relatively staggered position. A selecting member acts on the blades to hold down some and release others. The position of this member is determined by the device which causes the indications to be registered, the selecting member determining the number of blades that shall be allowed to rise to produce an indication corresponding to that which has been registered, while a locking member returns the blades at the beginning of each operation and holds all of them down in their bent position during the time required for the positioning of connected with suitable controlling mechanisms.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same unit or block as viewed from the opposite side, all the digit carrying blades being in their folded p0- sition.

' Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view with the 1 block or unit connected with the members transmitting the accounts to be recorded.

Referring to the drawings and only to those members that are used for a single order of magnitude, the mechanism for the other orders of magnitude being similar.

The unit comprises a vertically extending pack of nine blades l staggered longitudinally relative to each other. The blades have a thickness of a few hundredths of a millimeter. They are concave and resiliently flexible. Their lower ends are clamped between the curved back of a platen 2 and a bar 3 that connects two side walls 4 and 4' forming a frame of which the platen 2 forms the bottom.

An abutment plate 3 (Fig. 4) carrying zero digits is suspended from a transversal bar 3" fixed between the side walls 4 and 4. The plate 3 may be formed in one piece with the uprights or else be rigidly secured thereto.

The blades l of each pack, when bent downwardly (Figs. 1-3) are held in horizontal position by a slide 5 extending underneath the platen 2 and formed with an upturned front part 5 formed with a gate 6 with bevelled top edge. This slide controls the position of the blades that are formed at their outer ends with a small upturned portion 6' facilitating separation of the blades that are released from those that shall be held down. Each slide 5 comprises an upturned rear end 1. The horizontal middle portion of the slide is formed with a slot 8 (Fig. 2) in which is engaged the lower end 9 of a curved lever 10. The bottom faces of the slides 5 are formed with notches ll (Fig. 3) to be engaged by the sharp edge 12 of a spring pawl l3, which is secured to a member 14 forming part of the frame and holds the slides in any desired position.

The curved lever l0 keyed on a spindle l5 supported by the side walls 4-4 of the frame is formed with a nose l6 (Fig. 2) adapted to bear against a stepped disc I! secured to a coaxial toothed disc l8 serving for the transmission of the amount to be recorded to a printing mechanism that is not illustrated as it does not form part of the present invention. This disc 18 is keyed to a telescoping shaft [9 forming part of the mechanism transmitting the amount to be recorded. For example, the shaft [9 may be connected to the shaft of the numeral wheel 38 as illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 654,836, filed March 16, 1946, for Differential Actuating Mechanism for Calculating Machines. The disc I8 and also the stepped disc I! occupies a position depending on the indication transmitted by the recording mechanism (not shown) as forming no part of the invention.

The blades I are bent down and held down by a bar 25 (Figs; 3and 4) supported by arms 2I fixed to a rock shaft 22 supported in the frame. The bar 20 can be locked by a lever 23 (Fig. 4) formed with a check 24 on its upper edge adapted to hold up a stop 24 secured to an arm 22' keyed to the shaft 22. The lever 23 is mounted on an axle 25 extending underneath the front end of platen 2. To a bar 26 (Figs. 1 and 4) mounted between the side walls of the frame 44 are attached springs 21 engaging with their other ends 28 the levers I (Figs. 3 and 4) to hold them back.

The rock shaft 22 carrying the bar 20"is controlled by a cam shaft 29 (Figs. 3 and 4) through the agency of a mechanism to be disclosed hereinafter. This shaft 29 is connected with the electrical or mechanical control devices of the cash register or the like machine fitted with the signalling means forming the object of my invention. The connection is operated through suitable transmission means illustrated in dotted lines at 3K! in Fig. 3 showing a train of gears. The shaft 29 carries a pinion 3I adapted to engage with the pinion 32 mounted on a shaft 33. This pinion 32'is' formed with two series of teeth, of which one cooperates with the pinion 3I and the other with a toothed'sector 34 keyed to the shaft 22. A cam 35 keyed to the shaft 29 controls thev release of the blades I in the gate 6 of the slide 5. This cam is provided with a finger 36 acting on a roller 31 carried by a rocking lever 38 loose on a shaft 39. This rocking lever 38 carries a roller 40 engaging an arm 4I' fixed to a hub 42 which is loosely mounted on a shaft 42" and has a strap 43 fixed to it which can be made to act-on the rear flanges I of all the slides 5.

. Another cam disc 44 (Figs. 3 and 4) keyed to the shaft 29. provides for the receiving movement of the ends 9 of the levers I 0, thereby allowing the noses I6 of these levers to bearagainst the stepped disc I! that occupies a position corresponding to the amount recorded. The cam 44 is formed to this end with a deep recess 45 and a projecting finger 46 at one side of said recess. Cam 44 contacts a roller 4-! carried by a rocking. lever 48 keyed to the spindle 39 and coacting by means of a roller 49 with an arm (Fig. 4) fixed to a hub 5I loose on the shaft 42'. A strap 52 fixed to the hub 5I normally engages the ends of the levers II) (Fig. 4) and releases them when the roller 41 drops into the cam recess 45. This strap thus controls the ends 9 of all the levers I0.

The-arm 50 (Fig. 4) is formed with a finger 53' that bears against the end of the lever 23 to release the bar as soon as the finger 46 on the cam 44 has displaced the rock lever 48 in a direction opposed to the displacement of this lever by'the action of the recess 45.

I will now describe the operation of the device above described.

The main control member of the machine (not shown) operates the train of gears 30 shown in Fig. 3 which controls the camshaft 29. At the beginning of the operation, the pinion 3| (Fig. 4) engages the pinion 32 which by means of the toothed sector 34' keyed to the shaft 22 bends down all the blades I by means of the bar 20, which is then locked by the stop 24' on the arm 22 that engages the rear face of the check 24 on the lever 23. The slide 5 is shifted forwards before the bar 20 has been completely moved down and by this movement releases the pack of blades I from its gate 6 under the action of the cam disc 35 whose finger 36 rocks the lever .38. This movement is transmitted by the roller an to the arm 4| fixed to the hub 42 that rotates on the shaft 42 and causes the rod 43 to rock forwards and to act on the operating flange I of the slide 5 to shift it forwards and release the blades I held in its gate 6. The finger 9 of every lever III which extends into the slot 8 of a slide 5 near the flange I, is carried along in this forward movement.

The parts are now positioned as follows (see Fig. 3): all the blades I of the pack are bent down and the slide 5 is in its extreme forward position. The bar 20 holding the blades I down is locked, so that the pinion 32 is free to assume a position in which its teeth no longer engage those of the pinion 3I. In this position, the bar 23is locked by the check 24 engaging the stop 24'. Moreover, at the moment when the finger 33 on the cam disk 35 becomes operative, the cam disc 44 enters a position at which its recess 45'registers with the roller M and the strap 52 controlled bythis roller, the rocking lever 48; the roller 49 and the arm 5|) releases the ends 9 of the levers I!) which are then forced by their springs 21 against the stepped disc I! which engages the fingers I6 of the levers II). The stepped disc I'I having previously been set by the recording mechanism acting on the. telescopic spindle I0, into the position corresponding to the amount recorded, the ends 9 of the levers I!) force back the slides 5 as far as the stepped disc I! permits.

Each slide 5 now occupies the position corresponding to the amount registered for the respective digit. Its accurate positioning is ensured by the coaction of the spring pawl I2 with the notches II. Immediately thereafter the locking lever 23 is released as the finger 46 on cam disc 44 engages the roller 41, and the operation of the strap 52 mentioned above results in arotation of the rock lever 48' in the opposite direction which releases the bar 20 when the finger 53 depresses the end of the lever 23 and disengages the stop 24' from the check 24. The bar 253 is now free and the blades I that are not retained by the gate in the slide 5 the position of which depends on the registering position of the stepped disc H, are free to rise without any shock or noise, their movement accompanying that of the bar 20, which is now housed in a recess 60 provided in the plate 3' as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The figure or letter or the like on the blade can now be read corresponding to the numerals or letters recorded.

The blades I held down by the slide 5 remain in their position until the next operation that is performed exactly in the same manner as that above described.

The holding down of the blades by the bar 20 is so effected that their upturned ends do not engage the edges of the gate 6, in other Words the shifting of the slide 5 only provides for the positioning of the blades that have to be held down Without any friction being exerted on their ends.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction and operation shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

the blades are straight and a second position in which all the blades are bent into positions at an angle to their fixed ends, said blades being sufiiciently resilient to straighten out when said bending means returns to its first position, said blades when bent having their free ends extend ing difierent distances so that the tip portion of each blade projects beyond the tip portion of the adjacent overlying blade, selective retaining means movable longitudinally over the tip portionsof the pack of blades while the latter are held in their bent positions by said bending means, said retaining means being effective upon subsequent release of the bent blades when the bending means returns to its first position to re tain in their bent positions only those blades with whose tip portions it is aligned, and means operable while the blades are held by the bending means to position said retaining means selectively to determine the number of blades thereafter released by movement of the bending means to its first position.

2. An indicating device for calculating machines comprising a pack of elastic blades fixed at one end, each blade carrying a marking on a corresponding side thereof, bending means therefor movable between a first position in which all the blades are straight and the marking on the blade at one end of the pack is visible and a secnone; of said markings are visible, said blades being sufiiciently resilient to straighten out when said bending means returns to its first position, said blades when bent having their free ends extending different distances so that the tip portion of each blade projects beyond the tip portion of the adjacent overlying blade, selective retaining means movable longitudinally over the tip portions of the pack of blades while the latter are held in their bent positions by said bending means, said retaining means being effective upon subsequent release of the bent blades when the bending means returns to its first position to retain in their bent positions only those blades with whose tip portions it is aligned, thereby rendering a selected one of said markings visible, and means operable while the blades are held by the bending means to position said retaining means selectively to determine the number of blades thereafter released by movement of the bending means to its first position, and thereby to select the one of said markings to be rendered visible.

3. An indicating device as claimed in claim 2, including a fixed plate parallel to said pack when in its first position and having a marking on the side facing said pack, so that the marking on said plate is rendered visible when all of said blades are in their bent positions.

4. An indicating device for a calculating machine having a registering mechanism, comprising a pack of elastic indicia carrying blades fixed at one end, bending means therefor movable between a first position in which all the blades are straight and a second position in which all the blades are bent into positions at an angle to their fixed ends, said blades being sufficiently resilient to straighten out when said bending means returns to its first position, said blades when bent 8,. having their free ends extending diflerent distances so that the tip portion of each blade projects beyond the tip of the adjacent overlying blade, selective retaining means movable longitudinally over the tip portions of the pack of blades while the latter are held in their bent positions by said bending means, said retaining means being efiective upon subsequent release of the bent blades when the bending means returns to its first position to retain in their bent positions only those-blades with whose tip p'or-. tionsit is aligned, and means including a mem ber positioned by the registering mechanism and operable while the blades are held by the bend-1 ing means to position said retaining means selectively to determine the number of blades there step engaged depending upon the position of the cam. r 6.7 An indicating device for calculating machines comprising a plurality of aligned packs of elastic indicia carryin blades fixed at one end, common bending means therefor movable between a first position in which all the blades of all the packs are straight and a second position in which all the blades of all the packs are bent into ond position in which all the blades are bent into posltions at an angle to fixed ends the positions at an angle to their fixed ends so that blades of each pack when bent having their free ends extending diflferent distances so that the tip portion of each blade pro ects beyond the tip of the adjacent overlying blade, individual selective retaining means for each pack movable longitudinally of the bent blades and effective only when aligned with the tin portions of the blades to retain a preselected number of the blades in bent position after the blades are released by the bending means, and individual means for each pack for position ng the assoc ated reta ning means to determine inde e dently the number of blades released in each pack.

'7. An indicating device for c lculating machines comorising a pack of elast c indicia carrying blades fixed at one end. bendin means therefor movable between a first pos tion in which all the blades are straight and a second osition in which all the blades are bent into positions at an angle to their fixed ends, said blades when bent having their free ends extendin different distances so that the tip portion of each blade projects beyond the tip of the adjacent overlying blade, selective retaining means comprising a slide movable longitudinally of the bent blades and apertured to permit free passage of the blades when retained in their bent positions by the bending means, said slide being efiective only when aligned with the tip portions of the blades to retain a preselected number of the blades substantially in their bent positions after the blades are released by the bending means, and means for positioning the slide to determine the number of blades released.

8, An indicating device as claimed in claim '7, in which the edge of the slide aperture which cooperates with the blades is beveled and in which each blade tip has an upturned edge portion for engaging the beveled edge of said slide aperture anemone when the'beiidingf means releases-the blade.'-and theslideis aligned with' the tip.

QLAn'ind'icating device as claimed' in claim '7; including means for insuringaccurate position ing of theslide com'prising'a set of accurately formed'teeth on'the'slide, and a spring biased pawl for'engaging. the notches between said'teeth.

' 10; An indicating device as claimed in claim 6, inwhich each of said retaining means isa slide,

and inwhich each said positioning means includes 'a' lever'having a one-way driving connec-- tionwith said'slide, means for moving-said'lever' in' the'dir'e'ction to drive the slide, means for selectively stopping said lever motion at different points" to position the slide at correspondingly differ ent-points, and means for driving the levers" tion with said slide, means for holding all said levers'i'n positions where the slides are out of alignment with the blades, said holding means being releasable to'permit all said levers to drive their slides simultaneously, means for moving each lever in the direction to drive its associated slide, a'n'dmeans for selectively stopping the lever motion at' difierent points toposition' the slideat correspondingly difierent points.

12. An indicating device as claimed in claim 6; including means for locking said common bendin'g' means in its second position, means for coordinating the movements of said locking releas- 8 lng means and said retaining means-so that said locking means is released only after all said retaining means have been selectively positioned.

13. An indicating device for calculating machines comprising a pack of elastic indicia carrying blades fixed at one end, bending means there for movable between a first position in which all the blades are straight and a second position in which all the blades are bent into positions at an angle to their fixed ends, said blades when bent having their free ends extending different distances so that the tip portion of each blade" projects beyond the tip portion of the adjacent overlying blade, selective retaining means mova-. ble longitudinally of the bent blades and effectiveonly when aligned with the tip portions of thebent blades to retain in bent position the blades with whose tips it is'aligned after the bending means returns to its first position, means for po-v sitioning the retaining means to determine the. number of blades retained thereby, and means for cyclically operating the bending means to its second position, thereafter operatin the positioning means, and then returning the bending means to its first position, so that the number of blades retained may be varied from one cycle of operation to the next in any desired sequence.

ROBERT GOURDON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 954,272 Elliott Apr. 5, 1910 2,341,983 Faas Feb. 15, 1944 

